Roy lifted the axe with ease, sensing his muscles rippling along his back as he did so. Despite the chill bite of the late autumn air he was drenched in sweat, his shirt cast aside. He loved performing manual labor. It reminded him how good it felt to be well, to be whole and strong once again. With a small grunt he swung down hard, the splintering of wood crackling in his ears.

Five years ago today... Has it really been that long?

His mind relayed that day's events yet again as his body mechanically continued his work. He could barely remember what it had felt like to be the weak man that had died on the train bound for nowhere. He thought of Maes and pondered for the millionth time if he had actually been there that day. No one knew of it; they would probably laugh or blink stupidly at him if he told them. But even through his logical mind scolded him for such naiveté, his heart knew beyond doubt that his friend had been present. It gave him peace to have Hughes' forgiveness and blessing.

Edward flashed into his minds' eye, but he closed his thoughts to the man and continued swinging his axe. Mustang had a new home now, a new life, and there was no room for his past mistakes. He hadn't even bothered to contact Riza or anyone else from his old team.

Roy was truly happy here. It was a joy that he never before believed he was allowed to have. Dropping the axe, he sighed contentedly as he wiped sweat from his brow. The countryside was beautiful, rolling hills and trees as far as the eye could see. The faint tint of brown within the green pastures signaled the oncoming of winter but did nothing to ruin the beauty of the landscape.

Mustang bent forward to collect the chunks of firewood scattered along the ground, sweat dripping from his bared skin to water the dusty dirt beneath his feet. A gust of wind stole some of his body heat, but it was a welcomed theft. Legs strong under him, he proceeded to walk over to the diminished pile of chopped wood and deposit his load neatly atop.

Yes, he may not be able to recall exactly how it felt to be useless and weak, but that didn't mean he didn't appreciate his regained strength. Even after Dr. Gene Kendrick had saved him so long ago, Roy has refused to take his health for granted. Once he was finally rehabilitated, Roy had offered his services as an assistant to the doctor. In exchange he was given his own modest home and a decent wage. Mustang felt that was the least he could do after all the trouble Dr. Kendrick had gone through to save his previously miserable life. Not only had he saved Roy's life, he gave him a new and better one. It was a favor he could never hope to repay.

After he finished organizing the newly-cut wood, he tossed his shirt over his shoulder with one hand and with the other picked up the axe. Striding confidently, he went over to the tool shed and placed the axe on its hook. He didn't bother to lock the shed behind him before he left. Never had he come across a more peaceful town. The most exciting things that happened around there was the illnesses and injuries that crossed Dr. Kendrick's doorstep.

That was another reason why he loved his work. Assisting during a person's most trying times was gratifying in itself. Roy's steely nerve had helped calm patients on more than one occasion and was a compliment to the doctor's gentleness. Mustang's existence was a very humble one, not that he minded. It was almost like working in the military, his dreams of becoming Fuhrer, were a part of a life long-dead. They were not part of who he was at the present. Now all he wished for was to spend his days helping those around him and continuing his companionship with the kind Dr. Kendrick.

"Hello, Mr. Mustang!" a young girl piped from the doctor's doorway as he approached.

"Hello there, Tiffany. How's your mother doing?" He asked kindly, pulling on his shirt.

Tiffany beamed a bright, innocent smile. "Feeling much better now that Dr. Kendrick's helping her."

Mustang smiled smiled down at the little one and knocked on the doorframe.

A reverberating voice responded to his knock. "You may come in. We're just finishing in here."

Roy entered to see Dr. Kendrick passing a small bottle to a plain woman, quietly giving her instructions on dosage and symptoms to expect from the medication. She gave a nod and small smile in Roy's direction as she listened to the information. They both stood and turned to the door that Mustang had just used.

"Thank you so much, doctor. You're always such a help to me and my family. I'm grateful to you." She turned to Roy. "And you as well, Mr. Mustang. What you did for my husband last year will never be forgotten."

Roy just smiled politely and stepped out of the doorframe. "Such words are unnecessary, Mrs. Jones. It was my pleasure. I hope you will be feeling better soon."

"With Dr. Kendrick's help, I'm sure I'll be well in no time. Come, Tiffany. We need to get home before supper." She nodded a goodbye as her child grabbed her by the hand. Their pleasant chatter slowly faded as they walked away.

"What was wrong with her?" Roy questioned.

Kendrick was already moving about, gathering a thermometer, towel, and tongue depressor and heading to the sink. "Just a cough and sore throat. Nothing serious." He quickly worked to disinfect the items.

Roy sat in the chair that Kendrick had been occupying moments before, the heat from the seat nudging its way through his pants and making his manhood throb. Kendrick's back was turned to him, broad beneath the cotton. Every move he made caused his muscles to dance gracefully under the material, and Roy couldn't tear his eyes away.

Dr. Kendrick was an incredibly handsome man in his early forties. Grey strands flirted discreetly with his brown hair, complementing the metallic color of his eyes. And in spite of his age and occupation, he was very physically fit. His skin was pale but still darker than Mustang's, and the laugh lines in his face showed only openness and charisma.

Kendrick broke the casual silence, startling him. "Have you finished your errands for the day?"

He blinked and forced himself to look at the table, the wall, anything but the doctor. "Yes, I hope you haven't needed me for anything. I wanted to get the firewood ready before winter set in. We'll probably have a lot of patients again soon."

Kendrick glanced over his shoulder, smiling. "Of course. It's already started, as you can see. It's a little early for the common cold to rise, but it is just the same. I suspect by next week we'll have a good portion of the town requesting to see us. Thank you for accomplishing the small tasks early."

"That's what I'm here for. All I want is to make life a little easier for everyone in this town."

"Is that because your life was so difficult before?" Kendrick turned to look at Roy, having just completed the care for his supplies.

Roy wasn't entirely shocked by the straight-forwardness of the question. Over the years he and Kendrick had had many conversations of a deep nature. Some of those conversations were about his past, some weren't. Mustang had come to know that Kendrick was a direct but patient man. He hadn't told the doctor many things about his life before the train, and to his credit Kendrick never asked many questions. Roy had proved very vague when confronted, so the man had never pushed it.

"I want the life you gave me to be worthwhile. Before you came along, I was lost. I had nothing left. You gave me another chance, one that many people more deserving than myself never receive."

The taller man paused, resting his hands on the countertop behind him as he gave Roy a steady gaze. The sadness in his eyes had Mustang locked in place. He could barely breathe from the intensity.

"Five years ago I found you dead on the train. You had been plagued by heart disease, but I sense that something else caused you to cease your fight for survival. I saw the loss of hope in your eyes."

Repulsion forced Roy to look away from the doctor's grey stare as his mind flooded with past images and emotions that he fought to stamp down. "That is over now. I rarely think of the past."

Kendrick could see that as far as Roy was concerned the conversation was over. "I only wish for your happiness."

Roy grinned, standing from his chair and heading for the door. "Believe me, Gene, I am happy." With that he strode out of the doorway, leaving a quietly smiling Dr. Kendrick behind.